Raggedy Ann Stories eBook

Later in the day Marcella came bouncing into the nursery
with a surprise for the dolls. It was a dear
fuzzy little kitten.

Marcella introduced the kitten to all the dolls.

“Her name is Boots, because she has four little
white feet!” said Marcella. So Boots, the
happy little creature, played with the penny dolls,
scraping them over the floor and peeping out from behind
chairs and pouncing upon them as if they were mice
and the penny dolls enjoyed it hugely.

When Marcella was not in the nursery, Raggedy Ann
wrestled with Boots and they would roll over and over
upon the floor, Boots with her front feet around Raggedy
Ann’s neck and kicking with her hind feet.

[Illustration]

Then Boots would arch her back and pretend she was
very angry and walk sideways until she was close to
Raggedy. Then she would jump at her and over
and over they would roll, their heads hitting the floor
bumpity-bump.

Boots slept in the nursery that night and was lonely
for her Mamma, for it was the first time she had been
away from home.

Even though her bed was right on top of Raggedy Ann,
she could not sleep. But Raggedy Ann was very
glad to have Boots sleep with her, even if she was
heavy, and when Boots began crying for her Mamma, Raggedy
Ann comforted her and soon Boots went to sleep.

One day Jeanette came home. She had a new coating
of wax on her face and she was as beautiful as ever.

Now, by this time Boots was one of the family and
did not cry at night. Besides Boots was told
of the mouse in the corner and how he had eaten Jeanette’s
wax, so she promised to sleep with one eye open.

Late that night when Boots was the only one awake,
out popped a tiny mouse from the hole. Boots
jumped after the mouse, and hit against the toy piano
and made the keys tinkle so loudly it awakened the
dolls.

They ran over to where Boots sat growling with the
tiny mouse in her mouth.

My! how the mouse was squeaking!

Raggedy Ann did not like to hear it squeak, but she
did not wish
Jeanette to have her wax face chewed again, either.

So, Raggedy Ann said to the tiny little mouse, “You
should have known better than to come here when Boots
is with us. Why don’t you go out in the
barn and live where you will not destroy anything of
value?”

“I did not know!” squeaked the little
mouse, “This is the first time I have ever been
here!”

“No!” the little mouse answered.
“I was visiting the mice inside the walls and
wandered out here to pick up cake crumbs! I have
three little baby mice at home down in the barn.
I have never nibbled at anyone’s wax face!”

“Are you a Mamma mouse?” Uncle Clem asked.

“Yes!” the little mouse squeaked, “and
if the kitten will let me go I will run right home
to my children and never return again!”